Antigua, Cuba in DCC Finals

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Cuba and Antigua and Barbuda booked their spots in the finals of the Digicel Caribbean Cup to be staged in Martinique from November 26 to December 5, topping Group G with five points each after playing to a cautious nil-all draw in the ultimate round yesterday at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

The opening match of the double-header saw Suriname (four points) blank Dominica (one) 5-0 to give themselves a chance of progressing, had Antigua and Barbuda defeated Cuba.

Suriname's goals were scored by Naldo Kwasie (45th), Ives Vlijter (8th), Emilio Limon (56th), Roche Emanuelson (75th) and Stefan Rijssel (88th, penalty).

Cuba topped the group by virtue of a superior goal difference and will face hosts Martinique, seven-time champions Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada in Group X.

Antigua and Barbuda will compete in Group Y against the defending champions, Jamaica, Guadeloupe and Guyana.

Ready for the challenge

Cuba's coach, Raul Molina, says his team's objective was achieved and he is now looking forward to the challenge of the likes of Trinidad and Tobago in the finals.

"The objective coming into the tournament was to win the tournament and progress to the finals in Martinique," Molina expressed.

"Trinidad and Tobago is a strong team on paper, but on the field it is a different story. The team (Cuba) is going to prepare well and we have the personnel," he added.

Antigua and Barbuda's technical director, Billy McEwan, was naturally pleased with the fact that his team avoided a defeat and progressed to the finals.

"We went into the game to try and win it and if we didn't win not to lose it, we wanted to qualify for the finals, that's it," McEwan said.

"We are looking forward to it (the finals), it is another challenge for us. We're just going to go and work as hard as we have done in our last three games and put our chances away when they come along and hopefully that will enable us to win games," he further stated.

Dominica's coach, Kirk Hector, was disappointed and now believes his team needs to regroup.

Hector said: "I was looking forward to being in Martinique as every other team here. That is what we came here to do, but unfortunately it didn't work out that way. We have to go back home and just regroup."